Medical appliance



Aug 26, 1924. Lawsm J. G. HOMAN MEDICAL APPLIANCE Filed Dec. 17, 1919 INVENTOR Patented Aug. 26, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN G. HOMAN, OF STEUBENVILLE, OHIO, ASSIGNO'B TO ELECTROTHERMAL COM- IPANY, OF STEUBENVILLE, OHIO, A FIRM COMPOSED OF JOHN G. HUMAN AND WIL- LIAM J. KIRK.

MEDICAL APPLIANCE.

Application filed December 17, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN G. HOMAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Steubenville, in the county of Jefferson 5 and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Medical Appliances; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to medical appliances, and has special reference to such an inhaling device for use in connection with diseases, infections, etc., of the mucous membrane, or other parts of the human 15 head or body.

In certain and possibly many cases of infection or disease of the mucous membrane it may be desirable to apply suitably warmed air to such membrane or the air 20 passages therein, or in other cases it may also be desirable to medicate such air with the vapor of certain volatile ingredients, while in other cases it may be found desirable to administer radio activity as an emanation alone or combined with such heated air or with such air and medication.

The object of my invention is to provide a cheap, simple and efficient inhaling device which can be used. for being placed to or inserted in the nose or mouth of a person so that the warmed air, medicated vapor and radio-active emanation, or any one, two, or all of the same may be applied to the mucous membrane or the air passages therein, and thereby relieve or remove such disease or infection from such parts.

To these ends my invention consists, generally stated, in the novel arrangement, construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter more specifically set forth and described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

To enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to construct and use my improved inhaling device, I will describe the .same more fully, referring to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved inhaling device;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same;

Fig. 3 is a like view, showing a modified form of the invention;

Serial No. 345,508.

Fi 4 is a cross-section on the line IV- V, Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Like symbols of reference herein indicate like parts in each of the figures of the drawing.

As illustrated in the drawing, A represents my improved inhaling device, which is provided with a body or casing 1 and formed of wood or other suitable material. This casing is of tubular form, and as shown is circular in cross-section. At one end of the casing 1 is the nozzle 2, which has the discharging passage-way or opening 3 within the same leading from one end of a chamber 4 within such casing, and the opposite end of the said casing and chamber is closed by a screw-cap 5 engagmg w thin said chamber. The screw-cap 5 has pins 6 passing through the same and which project beyond the outer face of such cap for the purpose hereinafter described, while the inner ends of such pins project beyond the inner face of such cap and are connected to one end of a heating element 7 extending along and positioned centrall of the chamber 4. This heating element I extends through a portion 7' and is formed of a flat or slender strip of mica and wound around the same for a suitable distance from its free end is a resistor wire coil 8 of suitable proportions. A portion of the chamber 4ris lined with a radio-active thorium oxide or other suitable radioactive material, as at 9, and such material is secured to the wall 4 of such chamber in any suitable manner, such as by cementing the thorium or other crystals to such wall with water glass. IVithin the chamber 4- and carried by the heating element 7 is a pad 10, which is positioned between the cap 5 and partition 7' and can be formed of asbestos wool, or other suitable material, and such pad is adapted to retain an oil or oils or other medication to be volatilized. Extending through the casing 1 and opening into the chamber 4 beyond the pad 10 is a hole 11, which is adapted to be closed by a stopper or plug 12, and another hole 13 adapted to be closed by a stopper or plug 14 extends through the casing 1 into said chamber and opposite said pad.

In the use and operation of my improved inhaling device A, when the parts are assembled and ready for use, the outer ends of the pins 6 are connected in the usual manner with an electric circuit by means of suitably controlled wires not shown), and such circuit is connected y such wires and through such pins to the heating element 7. When it is desired to apply warmed or heated air, medicated vapor and radio-active emanation to the mucous membrane or infected or diseased parts, the nozzle 2 is placed to the nose or mouth, and with the stopper 12 placed within the hole 11 and the stopper 14 removedfrom the hole ,13, the air inhaled by the erson Wlll pass through the hole and me 1cated pad 10 and over the hot radio-active lining 9, which is heated by the heating element. 7, thence the combined heated air, medicated vapor and radio-active emanation pass into the head of the person.

When it is not desired to use the heated air in the device A, it can easily be shut off by disconnecting'"the electric current from the pins 6, or the desired heat to the air can be regulated by the usual controlling device (not shown) in the electric wires connecting such pins.

In case it is desired to avoid using the medicated vapor contained in the pad 10, the stopper 12 is removed from the hole 11 and the stopper 14 placed within the hole 13, thereby permitting only the air inhaled through the hole 11 to combine only with the emanation from the heated or hot radioactive lining 9 for use in the persons head.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, A desi ates the inhaler enerally, 2 is the nozz e, 3 the passage t erethrough, 4 the interior chamber. At the end of the plug opposite the nozzle is a connector plug 5' having terminals 6' therein. An electric heating element is provided inside the body and spaced from the walls thereof. This element may be in the form of a mica support 7 having that end nearest the nozzle wrapped with resistance wire 8'. From these turns of resistance wire are leads that connect with the terminals 6, the construction being similar to that described in connection with Fig. 2'. At 7 is a transverse partition, and at 17 is-a second transverse partition. By means of these partitions, the inside of the body is divided into three chambers, which communicate with each other around the mica strip 7 The intermediate chamber may have a lining 9 corresponding to lining 9 in Fi 1.' Air may beadmitted to this chamber y removal of the plug 12 in port 11'. In the chamber most remote from the nozzle is a substance 10 for holding medicated compounds for producing vapors. Air may be admitted to this chamber by removal of plug 14'- in port 13'.

The chamber closest the nozzle contains only the heating element, and should it be desired to inhale only warm air', plug 16' in port 15 may be removed, while the other two plugs remain closed.

Upon removal of plug 14' with the other two plugs in place, the air will be both medicated and activated from the emanation from the intermediate chamber. Should only activated air be desired, plug 12' is removed.

It will also be obvious that in case it is desired to use some force for the air to pass through the inhaler, any suitable bulb or other air forcing means may be applied to any one of the air receiving holes in the casing.

Various other modifications and changes in the design and construction of my improved inhaling device may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

It will thus be seen that my improved inhaler is capable of ready and convenient use at all times, is not at all liable to get out of order, is easily and quickl arranged for use with the particular me icaments desired, while such medicaments specified and handled by the device will be very eflicacious and remedial in infectious diseases of the mucous membrane, pulmonary organs or other parts of the head or body.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure b Letters Patent is:

1. An in alin device comprising an elongated hollow body having an outlet opening at one end thereof, a connecting plug at the 100 other end thereof, a longitudinally extending supporting member on the plug projecting into the 0d out of contact with the walls thereof, an an electric heating means on said supporting member for heatin air 5 admitted to the interior of the body an -before it passes through the outlet.

2. An inhaling device comprising an elongated body having a hollow interior, a connecting plug closing one end of the body 1 0 havin terminals thereon, an air outlet at the ot er end. of the body, an air heating chamber in the body with which the outlet communicates, an air treating chamber in advance of the air heating chamber, means 5 for admitting air to the air treating chamber, a longitudinally extending supporting means on said lug projecting 1nto the body and centrally ocated therein, and electric heating means connected with the terminals 120 in the plug on said supporting means in the air heating chamber.

3. An inhaling device comprising an elongated body having a hollow interior, a plug closing one end of the body, an air outlet at 125 the other end of the body, an air heating chamber in the body with which the outlet communicates, said air heating chamber being lined with a radio-active substance, an air treating chamber in advance of the air 130 heating chamber, means for admitting air to the air treating chamber, a longitudinally extending supporting means on said plug, and electric heating means on said supporting means in the air heating chamber.

4. An inhaling device comprising an elongated body having a hollow interior, a plug closing one end of the body, an air outlet at the other end of the body, an air heating chamber in the body with which the outlet communicates, a portion of said air heating chamber being lined With a radio-active substance adapted to give off emanations when heated, an air treating chamber in advance of the air heating chamber, means for admitting air to the air treating chamber, a longitudinally extending supporting means on said plug, and electric heating means on said Zupporting means in the air heating cham- 5. An inhaling device of the class described, comprising a casing having a chamber provided with air supply openings and an elongated discharge opening connecting the same, a radio-active material Within said chamber, a volatile medicated material Within said chamber, and a longitudinally extending electrical heating means in the chamber adapted to heat said chamber for heating the mixture of cold air 'forced through said supply openings into said chamber and the emanation and vapor from said materials, respectively, for applying said heated mixture to the head through said discharge opening by inhalation.

In testimony whereof, I the said JoirN G. HoMAN, have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN G. HOMAN.

Witness:

J. M. GEOGHEGAN. 

